One wonders if the NFL is fully aware of just how much they've priced themselves out of most people's budgets.

I've been to two NFL games in my life, one in Charlotte and one in Cincy. Both times it was because a friend was generous enough to give us tickets. If I lived much closer than four hours away from the nearest NFL stadium, it might be different...but I sure as hell wouldn't spend ~$75 per ticket, ~$30 per person in concessions, and (in the case of Charlotte) ~$10 to park anywhere in sight of the stadium. And that's for the regularseason; I'm sure the ticket prices for the playoffs are way above and beyond that. Mrs. Samurai and I were aghast when we saw the face value of the tickets to the Cincy-Cleveland game (still had an amazing time, thanks MJ!), and there's just us; if we had a kid or two, it just wouldn't be feasible. And we're certainly not alone.

/I gotta give Cincinnati/Newport a shout-out, though; aside from the in-stadium costs, that area is wonderful, plenty of food and shopping, and you can park for $3 at the aquarium and ride the ferry across the river.

I'm impressed with the way they handled it this year -- my tickets for my season ticket seats for Saturday are only $20 over regular season face value AND for the first time the team is charging season ticket holders on an "as we make it" basis instead of "just give us $1,000 and if we don't make the playoffs or we flame out in the first game then billionaire owner Jeff Lurie would be HAPPY to hold onto all the money as a credit towards next season."

I'm impressed with the way they handled it this year -- my tickets for my season ticket seats for Saturday are only $20 over regular season face value AND for the first time the team is charging season ticket holders on an "as we make it" basis instead of "just give us $1,000 and if we don't make the playoffs or we flame out in the first game then billionaire owner Jeff Lurie would be HAPPY to hold onto all the money as a credit towards next season."

A few years of miserable play and you start to be concerned with how much shiat the fans will put up with.

Also, odds are low they host more than this game, since they only way they host the NFCCG is if they win, take out the Panthers in round 2, and whoever else knocks off the Seahawks in Seattle.

UNC_Samurai:One wonders if the NFL is fully aware of just how much they've priced themselves out of most people's budgets.

Nope, the NFL is more concerned with what doohickeys they can add to the "in-stadium experience" to justify the cost of the tickets. Hey, how about we put fantasy stats and WiFi in the stadium? Or personal wireless device connectors at every seat? How about more music and sound effects between every play?

tommyl66:UNC_Samurai: One wonders if the NFL is fully aware of just how much they've priced themselves out of most people's budgets.

Nope, the NFL is more concerned with what doohickeys they can add to the "in-stadium experience" to justify the cost of the tickets. Hey, how about we put fantasy stats and WiFi in the stadium? Or personal wireless device connectors at every seat? How about more music and sound effects between every play?

/I miss Foxboro Stadium

Honestly, they should make it an absolute luxury experience, but then drop the price to a ridiculously low level. Going to the stadium needs to be a better football experience than playing at home, or stadiums will eventually be worthless.

Klivian:Mr. Coffee Nerves: The only one that's sold-out is the Eagles game (so far).

I'm impressed with the way they handled it this year -- my tickets for my season ticket seats for Saturday are only $20 over regular season face value AND for the first time the team is charging season ticket holders on an "as we make it" basis instead of "just give us $1,000 and if we don't make the playoffs or we flame out in the first game then billionaire owner Jeff Lurie would be HAPPY to hold onto all the money as a credit towards next season."

A few years of miserable play and you start to be concerned with how much shiat the fans will put up with.

Also, odds are low they host more than this game, since they only way they host the NFCCG is if they win, take out the Panthers in round 2, and whoever else knocks off the Seahawks in Seattle.

That's why I'm impressed. A few years back when Andy Reid fell ass-backwards into the playoffs they charged us up-front for two home games even though as the 6 seed there was no way possible to host even a single game. This year my credit card didn't get hit until after the Dallas game.

I think given the conditions this Saturday the Eagles can beat the Saints -- Jimmy Graham may have something to say about that, of course -- but this Eagles team just isn't good enough to beat the Panthers the way the Panthers are playing on defense of late, and even if a fluke win were to happen in Charlotte there's no way they can beat Seattle in Seattle.

Still - if you would have told me in September that I'd be strapping on the long johns and bringing the fire pit to a home game in January I'd have assumed that during the Giants-Cowboys game the Redskins plane must have crashed into the field.

a blackout won't be as bad as years ago. now with streaming from overseas unless no one in the fan group knows how to do it or has a decent speed internet connection they will be able to make do. i'm disappointed here in the usa the sports channels plan to carry few world cup soccer matches. my dad and i are retired and we are going to stream every time they are on. we'd have bought a soccer package in a instant.

Mr. Coffee Nerves:Klivian: Mr. Coffee Nerves: The only one that's sold-out is the Eagles game (so far).

I'm impressed with the way they handled it this year -- my tickets for my season ticket seats for Saturday are only $20 over regular season face value AND for the first time the team is charging season ticket holders on an "as we make it" basis instead of "just give us $1,000 and if we don't make the playoffs or we flame out in the first game then billionaire owner Jeff Lurie would be HAPPY to hold onto all the money as a credit towards next season."

A few years of miserable play and you start to be concerned with how much shiat the fans will put up with.

Also, odds are low they host more than this game, since they only way they host the NFCCG is if they win, take out the Panthers in round 2, and whoever else knocks off the Seahawks in Seattle.

That's why I'm impressed. A few years back when Andy Reid fell ass-backwards into the playoffs they charged us up-front for two home games even though as the 6 seed there was no way possible to host even a single game. This year my credit card didn't get hit until after the Dallas game.

I think given the conditions this Saturday the Eagles can beat the Saints -- Jimmy Graham may have something to say about that, of course -- but this Eagles team just isn't good enough to beat the Panthers the way the Panthers are playing on defense of late, and even if a fluke win were to happen in Charlotte there's no way they can beat Seattle in Seattle.

Still - if you would have told me in September that I'd be strapping on the long johns and bringing the fire pit to a home game in January I'd have assumed that during the Giants-Cowboys game the Redskins plane must have crashed into the field.

Forgot to be clear: the credit card only got hit for the first round game, not two home playoff games. The trade-off is you print your tickets at home instead of being sent traditional tickets.

tommyl66:Nope, the NFL is more concerned with what doohickeys they can add to the "in-stadium experience" to justify the cost of the tickets. Hey, how about we put fantasy stats and WiFi in the stadium? Or personal wireless device connectors at every seat? How about more music and sound effects between every play?

My local MLS stadium is all whizz-banged out with all that tech-stuff. The cheaper seats are still in the $30-$35 range and parking is free.

Mr. Coffee Nerves:Klivian: Mr. Coffee Nerves: The only one that's sold-out is the Eagles game (so far).

I'm impressed with the way they handled it this year -- my tickets for my season ticket seats for Saturday are only $20 over regular season face value AND for the first time the team is charging season ticket holders on an "as we make it" basis instead of "just give us $1,000 and if we don't make the playoffs or we flame out in the first game then billionaire owner Jeff Lurie would be HAPPY to hold onto all the money as a credit towards next season."

A few years of miserable play and you start to be concerned with how much shiat the fans will put up with.

Also, odds are low they host more than this game, since they only way they host the NFCCG is if they win, take out the Panthers in round 2, and whoever else knocks off the Seahawks in Seattle.

That's why I'm impressed. A few years back when Andy Reid fell ass-backwards into the playoffs they charged us up-front for two home games even though as the 6 seed there was no way possible to host even a single game. This year my credit card didn't get hit until after the Dallas game.

I think given the conditions this Saturday the Eagles can beat the Saints -- Jimmy Graham may have something to say about that, of course -- but this Eagles team just isn't good enough to beat the Panthers the way the Panthers are playing on defense of late, and even if a fluke win were to happen in Charlotte there's no way they can beat Seattle in Seattle.

Still - if you would have told me in September that I'd be strapping on the long johns and bringing the fire pit to a home game in January I'd have assumed that during the Giants-Cowboys game the Redskins plane must have crashed into the field.

I chuckled.

Still, if that plane could just happen to smash directly into Jerry's suite (and provided the heirs apparent were present there also), it could do wonders for the Dallas organization.

As a Packer fan no longer living in Green Bay I can say that there would be 0% chance I would go to this game if I still lived there.

A) Below zero temps at game time while sitting on a metal bleacherB) Snow the day before so metal bleacher is snow coveredC) Every fat ass in the stadium wearing 50 layers of clothes to stay warm so you barely have your 4 inches of seat spaceD) Overpriced EVERYTHINGE) Our defense getting shredded by 49ers again

Seriously NFL, why would I go when i have normal priced beer, brats, 50+in HD tv with heat in my house if I live in GB? Want a fan experience? Invite friends over and chant Go Pack Go. Better than hypothermia

Lawnchair:tommyl66: Nope, the NFL is more concerned with what doohickeys they can add to the "in-stadium experience" to justify the cost of the tickets. Hey, how about we put fantasy stats and WiFi in the stadium? Or personal wireless device connectors at every seat? How about more music and sound effects between every play?

My local MLS stadium is all whizz-banged out with all that tech-stuff. The cheaper seats are still in the $30-$35 range and parking is free.

If I lived in DC I'd absolutely drop the money on the Screaming Eagles club. It's what, about $250? But that gets you season tickets, a pre-game tailgate with craft beers on tap, and a replica jersey.

A friend offered me tickets at $115 a piece and with pretty good locations seating wise for the Packer game. The 5 hour drive (coming from the Twin Cities) plus frigid temps really turned me off for this one. If I had never been to Lambeau I would have jumped at the opportunity but not this time. Warmth, beers of my choice, watching with friends, and the ability to act like Ramsey from that commercial int he comfort of my own home all make me want to stay in.

/I still think they will find a way to sell the remaining tickets.//Go Pack Go!!!

tommyl66:Nope, the NFL is more concerned with what doohickeys they can add to the "in-stadium experience" to justify the cost of the tickets. Hey, how about we put fantasy stats and WiFi in the stadium? Or personal wireless device connectors at every seat? How about more music and sound effects between every play?

Went to a Dallas game a few years ago and couldn't believe the bullshiat that went on during the game. Mind you the last NFL game I had been to was an Oiler's game in the 80's but it just seemed like there was a whole lot of standing around while Jerry was hawking Lite beer or Ford trucks. I kept thinking that there used to be more football at a football game.

The NFL has been very good at widening its fan base but those new fans are fickle. The core fans have been treated badly in favor of the corporate crowd who sees athletic events as a fun backdrop for meetings. Too many tickets are bought up in huge blocks and get handed out as employee rewards or as kickbacks to vendors. They've used pink shoes to try to get more casual female fans and endless marketing tricks to get tepid fans to tune in. But that support is a mile wide and an inch deep. These new fans are starting to get bored and are looking for the next entertainment fix. The NFL and it's cronies in the stadium replacement business have built up based on an ever increasing fan base. They're not set up for a return to the old mostly blue collar crowd. They need millions of eyes on the tv that are starting to get fatigued and they need corporate expense accounts covering the cost of attending games. They have built a league that can't go back to its blue collar roots. Financially they're not designed for it and from the perspective of the longtime fans, the league has told them to go away, they want the yuppie purchasing manager to buy their tickets. The hardcore fans will stay since they'll put up with almost any abuse but they're not enough to support the overbuilt overpriced monstrosity the NFL has become.

The NFL is in overshoot. They probably have another five years before everything really starts to fall apart. But like most organizations in severe overshoot, they're not going to realize what is going on until it's way too late to do anything about it.

Decisions decisions, do I spend $200+ per ticket for nose bleed seats where I can barely see the jumbotron or do I watch the game on my 60" plasma with the surround sound that can make the house sound like the stadium? Do I wait in a long line to piss or walk down the hall? Overpriced half warm beer with a limited selection or my sweet holiday ale home brew that will be ready just in time? $8 hotdogs or filet mignon on the grill? Boy this is a hard choice.

Problem is, as awesome as watching at home can be, if people all start staying home, then the television broadcasts will eventually go to pay-per-view, rather than free networks. Especially the playoffs. So while I'm perfectly happy to stay at home (my team is not even in the playoffs, and about 2000 miles away), I think fans should support their team if they can and attend in person.

INeedAName:tommyl66: UNC_Samurai: One wonders if the NFL is fully aware of just how much they've priced themselves out of most people's budgets.

Nope, the NFL is more concerned with what doohickeys they can add to the "in-stadium experience" to justify the cost of the tickets. Hey, how about we put fantasy stats and WiFi in the stadium? Or personal wireless device connectors at every seat? How about more music and sound effects between every play?

/I miss Foxboro Stadium

Honestly, they should make it an absolute luxury experience, but then drop the price to a ridiculously low level. Going to the stadium needs to be a better football experience than playing at home, or stadiums will eventually be worthless.

UNC_Samurai:One wonders if the NFL is fully aware of just how much they've priced themselves out of most people's budgets.

See I don't necessarily think it's the price....tickets are expensive but they've been expensive for 25 years. It's just that fans now prefer the comforts of home/their den, to all the hastle involved in going to a game. You go to an NFL game, it's an all day thing. You watch at home, it's ~3 hours and you've still got the rest of the day to watch another game or play with the kids or whatever.

MmmmBacon:Problem is, as awesome as watching at home can be, if people all start staying home, then the television broadcasts will eventually go to pay-per-view, rather than free networks. Especially the playoffs. So while I'm perfectly happy to stay at home (my team is not even in the playoffs, and about 2000 miles away), I think fans should support their team if they can and attend in person.

Yeah cause it's not like they're supporting them with stadium subsidies and tax write offs.

eagles95:As a Packer fan no longer living in Green Bay I can say that there would be 0% chance I would go to this game if I still lived there.

A) Below zero temps at game time while sitting on a metal bleacherB) Snow the day before so metal bleacher is snow coveredC) Every fat ass in the stadium wearing 50 layers of clothes to stay warm so you barely have your 4 inches of seat spaceD) Overpriced EVERYTHINGE) Our defense getting shredded by 49ers again

Seriously NFL, why would I go when i have normal priced beer, brats, 50+in HD tv with heat in my house if I live in GB? Want a fan experience? Invite friends over and chant Go Pack Go. Better than hypothermia

I"m not a Packer fan at all but my wife and kid are and we live in Appleton. Even as a Bears fan I have considered taking advantage of the cheap tickets for Sunday's game and taking them to the game and I will sit there in my Bears gear and smile as I watch the 49ers destroy the Packers at home. Betcha wish Cobb hadn't picked up that ball off the ground now don't ya?

The NFL lost me for good (when it comes to attending games) with the insert of PSLs. So let me get this straight, I have to pay you a ridiculous amount of money to have the privilege of handing you a lesser ridiculous amount of money to buy season tickets? Isn't that what a season ticket is? That I have X seats, and if I continue to renew them, I keep X seats? No? Ok, go fark yourselves.

Patronick313:The NFL lost me for good (when it comes to attending games) with the insert of PSLs. So let me get this straight, I have to pay you a ridiculous amount of money to have the privilege of handing you a lesser ridiculous amount of money to buy season tickets? Isn't that what a season ticket is? That I have X seats, and if I continue to renew them, I keep X seats? No? Ok, go fark yourselves.

EngineerAU:The NFL has been very good at widening its fan base but those new fans are fickle. The core fans have been treated badly in favor of the corporate crowd who sees athletic events as a fun backdrop for meetings. Too many tickets are bought up in huge blocks and get handed out as employee rewards or as kickbacks to vendors. They've used pink shoes to try to get more casual female fans and endless marketing tricks to get tepid fans to tune in. But that support is a mile wide and an inch deep. These new fans are starting to get bored and are looking for the next entertainment fix. The NFL and it's cronies in the stadium replacement business have built up based on an ever increasing fan base. They're not set up for a return to the old mostly blue collar crowd. They need millions of eyes on the tv that are starting to get fatigued and they need corporate expense accounts covering the cost of attending games. They have built a league that can't go back to its blue collar roots. Financially they're not designed for it and from the perspective of the longtime fans, the league has told them to go away, they want the yuppie purchasing manager to buy their tickets. The hardcore fans will stay since they'll put up with almost any abuse but they're not enough to support the overbuilt overpriced monstrosity the NFL has become.

The NFL is in overshoot. They probably have another five years before everything really starts to fall apart. But like most organizations in severe overshoot, they're not going to realize what is going on until it's way too late to do anything about it.

antidisestablishmentarianism:eagles95: As a Packer fan no longer living in Green Bay I can say that there would be 0% chance I would go to this game if I still lived there.

A) Below zero temps at game time while sitting on a metal bleacherB) Snow the day before so metal bleacher is snow coveredC) Every fat ass in the stadium wearing 50 layers of clothes to stay warm so you barely have your 4 inches of seat spaceD) Overpriced EVERYTHINGE) Our defense getting shredded by 49ers again

Seriously NFL, why would I go when i have normal priced beer, brats, 50+in HD tv with heat in my house if I live in GB? Want a fan experience? Invite friends over and chant Go Pack Go. Better than hypothermia

I"m not a Packer fan at all but my wife and kid are and we live in Appleton. Even as a Bears fan I have considered taking advantage of the cheap tickets for Sunday's game and taking them to the game and I will sit there in my Bears gear and smile as I watch the 49ers destroy the Packers at home. Betcha wish Cobb hadn't picked up that ball off the ground now don't ya?

RedPhoenix122:MugzyBrown: pueblonative: /we need to look at the NFL's tax status//anybody who can say with a straight face that the NFL is a non profit organization or a trade association deserves to be cockpunched

The NFL organization is non-profit. Even though you can't fathom how it works, it's still non-profit.

I know exactly how it works. The organization itself doesn't turn a profit for tax reasons. The money just gets bled out into the pockets of all the executives.

antidisestablishmentarianism:eagles95: As a Packer fan no longer living in Green Bay I can say that there would be 0% chance I would go to this game if I still lived there.

A) Below zero temps at game time while sitting on a metal bleacherB) Snow the day before so metal bleacher is snow coveredC) Every fat ass in the stadium wearing 50 layers of clothes to stay warm so you barely have your 4 inches of seat spaceD) Overpriced EVERYTHINGE) Our defense getting shredded by 49ers again

Seriously NFL, why would I go when i have normal priced beer, brats, 50+in HD tv with heat in my house if I live in GB? Want a fan experience? Invite friends over and chant Go Pack Go. Better than hypothermia

I"m not a Packer fan at all but my wife and kid are and we live in Appleton. Even as a Bears fan I have considered taking advantage of the cheap tickets for Sunday's game and taking them to the game and I will sit there in my Bears gear and smile as I watch the 49ers destroy the Packers at home. Betcha wish Cobb hadn't picked up that ball off the ground now don't ya?

It was Boykin, not Cobb.

And do you know what you call a division champion team that loses in the first round of the playoffs? Division Champions.

RedPhoenix122:MugzyBrown: pueblonative: /we need to look at the NFL's tax status//anybody who can say with a straight face that the NFL is a non profit organization or a trade association deserves to be cockpunched

The NFL organization is non-profit. Even though you can't fathom how it works, it's still non-profit.

I know exactly how it works. The organization itself doesn't turn a profit for tax reasons. The money just gets bled out into the pockets of all the executives.

I don't think I've ever seen someone white knight the NFL as an organization.

It amazes me that you can still possibly defend them as a non-profit, when the entire league (and Goodell's tenure) has been about increasing revenue. Sure, fine, technically the parent organization of the teams is a "non-profit", but when the ENTIRE PURPOSE of that organization is to increase revenue for its' owners and teams, how could you possibly see their status as anything but a scam?

starlost:a blackout won't be as bad as years ago. now with streaming from overseas unless no one in the fan group knows how to do it or has a decent speed internet connection they will be able to make do. i'm disappointed here in the usa the sports channels plan to carry few world cup soccer matches. my dad and i are retired and we are going to stream every time they are on. we'd have bought a soccer package in a instant.